Ernie Louttit Honesty + Integrity + Leadership

“Choosing the Hill”

Award winning Author of "Indian Ernie: Perspectives on Leadership and Policing" and "More Indian Ernie: Insights from the Streets", Louttit gives an honest and insightful look into his world. Ernie blows the lid off of taboo topics around policing, racism, and violence. Sharing his stories, some dark, and some humourous, with the goal of inspiring leadership in each and every one of us.

Ernie Louttit was born in Northern Ontario. A member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation raised off reserve in Oba, Ontario a small village 600 miles north of Toronto. Ernie attended a one room school until grade 8 and then was boarded out in a town further north for high school. As a result he left school at 15 to work on the Canadian National Railway. In 1978 at 17 he joined the Canadian Armed Forces serving 5 years in the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry attaining the rank of Master Corporal. Ernie changed trades to become a Military Policeman and served until 1987.

In 1987 he joined the Saskatoon Police. Ernie was the third native police officer in the force’s history. He spent nearly his entire career as a uniformed patrol officer and eventually was promoted to Sergeant.

Ernie Louttit came to Saskatoon at the beginning of a period of change both in policing and for First Nations. Issues of crime, violence and racist attitudes going both ways dominated most of his career. Through all of this he tried to keep it all in perspective realizing so many of the things happening were the residual effects of past wrongs and injustices. In October 2013 he retired and wrote a book about his experiences called “Indian Ernie: Perspectives on Leadership and Policing”.

In April 2015 Ernie’s first book was awarded the Rasmussen, Rasmussen, and Charowsky Aboriginal People’s writing award. His second book "More Indian Ernie: Insights from the Streets" was released in July 2015.

Since the books were released Ernie has been speaking all over Western Canada. His themes of strong leadership, tolerance and empathy have been well received. Ernie believes this is the best time to be a First Nations person in Canada especially for our youth. We are all capable of being leaders. Ernie uses a variety of stories, some are dark cautionary tales and others are humorous, to show that anyone can make a difference.

Leadership

Ernie has an incredibly diverse Leadership toolkit! He can address multiple facets of this topic including the woes of "Negative Leadership," and "Head in the Sand Leadership" and the positive impacts of "Empowering Leadership," "Passionate Leadership," and "Socially Responsible Leadership". Ernie will bring invaluable awareness and understanding to many concepts including:

Knowing each other: Police and the Community share the leadership responsibility

Seeing beyond what you see day to day: Adopting the invisible people

"Lighting up violence": Dealing with violence as a leader and as an individual (for Medical, Corrections, Police, and Mental health professionals)

Strength Through Self-Reliance

Success beckons success! Ernie discusses how important it is to know your job, and how every step forward is momentum for the next. His personal experiences will show how relying on yourself can move you faster towards your dreams, and that finishing what you started is key to getting to where you want to go.

Through the Eyes of an Indigenous Law Enforcement Officer

It’s no secret that Law Enforcement has had a long history of struggling to understand and deal with indigenous people. Ernie shares his personal journey of handling racism and violence on both sides of the law. While successfully breaking down the major roadblocks to understanding and empathy, Louttit discusses how as an Indigenous man he had never wanted a hand up, he just didn’t want anyone standing in his way, and how too often he had to "choose the hill" he wanted to die on.

"Indian Ernie: Perspectives on Leadership and Policing"

"In 1987, Louttit became only the third Native officer to serve in a city with a significant Aboriginal population. Drawing from his service as a veteran officer, Louttit – Indian Ernie as he came to be known on the streets – tells tales of conflict and violence, but most vividly, the realities of marginalized people. Demonstrating a passion for his community, he argues empathy can be the greatest tool in an officer's hands. He is passionate about policing, especially with society's less fortunate, and offers insights into addressing the issues marginalized people face."

"More Indian Ernie: Insights from the Streets"

"Retired Police Sergeant Ernie Louttit takes you back to the streets of Saskatoon in his second book, a street cop’s view of the realities of dealing with prostitutes, street gangs, drunk drivers, and other offenders. He gives people who are rarely exposed to crime a view of what policing “at the sharp end” is like, while acknowledging the struggles of those who are forced by circumstance to live in high-crime areas. The first point of contact for persons with mental illness and addictions is often the police, and Louttit highlights how changes in handling these individuals must occur."

Book

Book

- Lillian Denton, SIGA

"I was very touched by Ernie Louttit’s presentation and message of approaching our most vulnerable population with compassion and free of ego, as well as the personalized messages in the books. It is so important to be reminded of hoe there are those out there who value the gentle, empathetic approach to our students, and to students/adults in general."

– Alina Floch, Sask. Teachers

"Today is the international Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. To celebrate I attended a breakfast put on by the Saskatoon Police Service where the keynote speech was given by my friend Ernie Louttit. The thing that resonated with me the most was the comment that we all want the same things no matter who we are and it's our stories that connect us together."

- Jason Der - March 2015

"Before this day slips away on me; I would just like to send a quick email to once again thank you for speaking to our wonderful little town of Birch Hills last evening. You were definitely a crowd pleaser Ernie, as I have never witnessed a spontaneous standing ovation, in the last 20 years, as you received last night. Congratulations on a job well done."

Speaker Categories:

Ernie Louttit was born in Northern Ontario. A member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation raised off reserve in Oba, Ontario a small village 600 miles north of Toronto. Ernie attended a one room school until grade 8 and then was boarded out in a town further north for high school. As a result he left school at 15 to work on the Canadian National Railway. In 1978 at 17 he joined the Canadian Armed Forces serving 5 years in the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry attaining the rank of Master Corporal. Ernie changed trades to become a Military Policeman and served until 1987.

In 1987 he joined the Saskatoon Police. Ernie was the third native police officer in the force’s history. He spent nearly his entire career as a uniformed patrol officer and eventually was promoted to Sergeant.

Ernie Louttit came to Saskatoon at the beginning of a period of change both in policing and for First Nations. Issues of crime, violence and racist attitudes going both ways dominated most of his career. Through all of this he tried to keep it all in perspective realizing so many of the things happening were the residual effects of past wrongs and injustices. In October 2013 he retired and wrote a book about his experiences called “Indian Ernie: Perspectives on Leadership and Policing”.

In April 2015 Ernie’s first book was awarded the Rasmussen, Rasmussen, and Charowsky Aboriginal People’s writing award. His second book "More Indian Ernie: Insights from the Streets" was released in July 2015.

Since the books were released Ernie has been speaking all over Western Canada. His themes of strong leadership, tolerance and empathy have been well received. Ernie believes this is the best time to be a First Nations person in Canada especially for our youth. We are all capable of being leaders. Ernie uses a variety of stories, some are dark cautionary tales and others are humorous, to show that anyone can make a difference.

Language: English

Website: Click Here

Categories

What People Say

"

"Your talks are always so motivational, interesting and inspiring."

- Lillian Denton, SIGA

"I was very touched by Ernie Louttit’s presentation and message of approaching our most vulnerable population with compassion and free of ego, as well as the personalized messages in the books. It is so important to be reminded of hoe there are those out there who value the gentle, empathetic approach to our students, and to students/adults in general."

– Alina Floch, Sask. Teachers

"Today is the international Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. To celebrate I attended a breakfast put on by the Saskatoon Police Service where the keynote speech was given by my friend Ernie Louttit. The thing that resonated with me the most was the comment that we all want the same things no matter who we are and it's our stories that connect us together."

- Jason Der - March 2015

"Before this day slips away on me; I would just like to send a quick email to once again thank you for speaking to our wonderful little town of Birch Hills last evening. You were definitely a crowd pleaser Ernie, as I have never witnessed a spontaneous standing ovation, in the last 20 years, as you received last night. Congratulations on a job well done."

- Val Quayle, Birch Hills Library Gala Board member - April 2016

"Outstanding presentation Ernie. I love that term “leadership bump."

– Jason Der, Vandesta Leadership on Tap

"

-

Featured Speakers

Featured in CBC’s Moccassins & Concrete documentary and having performed with the likes of Serena Ryder, Andrea Menard, Plex and many others, Eddy Robinson’s perspective and drum beats are highly sought after.

Eddy Robinson is a caring and motivated educator, speaker, and life changer. He speaks to the need for understanding the benefits of knowing your culture. Eddy will enlighten and entertain with passionate, personal narratives, along with a depth of insight into indigenous culture and knowledge.

Named one of CBC Saskatchewan’s "Future 40", Dr. Jaris Swidrovich is Canada's first self-identified First Nations Doctor of Pharmacy. As President of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists, and member of numerous other boards Swidrovich brings his successful multiversity experience of bridging organizational needs with Health Care mandates. Passionate about health, education, and how Indigenous and marginalized people are impacted at local, provincial, national, and international levels, Dr. Swidrovich delivers powerful presentations illustrating how we can all be part of the cure and partake in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action.

Gemini Award winning Actress, and multi-award nominee, including Best Lead Actress and Best Actress in a TV series, powerhouse celebrity Michelle Thrush knows what it takes to light up a stage. Wit, humour, passion, and creativity are just a few of Michelle’s attributes, outside of celebrity, that draw her to stages world-wide. Whether she is speaking from her heart, hosting galas, or breaking down the barriers of stereotypes, Michelle engages, captivates, and moves audiences to feel and see her unique vision of life.

Multi-award winning International Leadership Speaker and Author, Ngahihi o te ra Bidois is known as "The Face of New Zealand" inspires with the timeless wisdom from the Maori culture. This Modern day warrior’s presentation on "Ancient Wisdom Modern Solutions" is why he is the recipient of the National Professional Speakers Association, New Zealand Inspirational Speaker of the Year. A Maori leader, Ngahi combines centuries of tradition, along with his hands-on business experience, and academic qualifications to bring a message that transcends cultural boundaries.